Our fresh Aussie Pears
ALDI and Aussie pear famers...the perfect pair!
If you love locally grown pears, you’ve come to the right place. Our Aussie-first supplier policy means we’re committed to sourcing our pears from local growers, whenever we can. That’s why 97% of our fresh fruit and veg is Australian grown.
Where do our pears come from?
ALDI’s low prices don’t reflect taste or quality. Our pears come from the same orchards as other supermarkets. Like the Goulburn Valley and Shepparton in VIC.
Meet the man behind our pears: Philip Damianopolous.
Philip inherited his love of farming from his family who began growing fruit back in 1948, establishing Masalki in 1986. The family orchards are located in the Victorian Goulburn Valley. Here, the cool mild winters and warm summers provide perfect growing conditions for juicy pears. For almost 15 years we’ve sourced our apples and pears from Masalki Orchards.
More than they ap-pear pear facts
How to know if a pear is ripe
Choose bright green pears. Check their firmness by pushing gently on their neck. A ripe pear will give a little when pressed.
When are pears in season in Australia?
Pear season in Australia typically peaks through Autumn and Winter, however they grow well throughout the year. Luckily, you can enjoy pears year-round at ALDI, thanks to the hard work of our local farmers!
What to do with pears?
Pears are perfect for snacking, blending in smoothies, slicing into salads or cooking. You can ripen to suit your taste. If you like pears crunchy, eat while they are firm and bright green. If you like a softer pear, put them with other fruit or in a brown paper bag. They’ll ripen and turn a pale yellow.
How to poach pears
Poaching pears can be as simple or as complex as you wish. Either way, they’re a healthy, warm, and delicious way to enjoy a sweet treat, and are perfect as a sweet topping on breakfast or dessert, or delicious enjoyed on their own.
Poaching pears – the quick and easy way:
1. Peel and slice your pears into your desired shape – remove seeds.
2. Place into a microwave safe dish with a tablespoon of water, cover and heat for 2-4 minutes.
3. Sprinkle cinnamon or sugar on top of your pears, or enjoy the naturally sweet pears as is!
This same method can be applied over a stovetop in a pot or pan – just be sure there’s enough water to cover the base of the pot or pan.
Poaching pears – the slightly fancier way:
1. Peel and slice your pears into your desired shape – remove seeds.
2. Heat up a cup of sugar, a ¼ cup of water and ¼ cup of honey in a pot or pan until the sugar dissolves
3. Place pears, vanilla bean, and 2-3 cinnamon sticks in the pan or pot and simmer for 25 minutes.
4. Serve as a sweet topping or enjoy as is.
How to ripen pears
If you want to quickly ripen your pears, the best way to do this is to keep your pears in a paper bag stored on the kitchen bench. Your ripe pears should last 5-10 days at room temperature.
Where do I store pears?
Store unripened pears at room temperature in a fruit bowl, checking daily to ensure they don’t overripen. Once ripe, store them in the fridge to delay further ripening.
What are some popular pear recipes that I should try?
Looking for some more creative ways to jazz up the humble pear? There’s more ways to use pears in cooking than you might think! Check out our selection of pear recipes below.
